Guns found in raid on Miller's warehouse

TWO firearms have been found during a massive raid on premises run by rogue kitchen trader Vance Miller. The weapons were discovered after 130 police and trading standards officers raided three homes and Mr Miller's warehouse in Oldham.

TWO firearms have been found during a massive raid on premises run by rogue kitchen trader Vance Miller.

The weapons, believed to be illegal ball-bearing guns, were discovered after 130 police and trading standards officers raided three homes and Mr Miller's warehouse in Oldham.

Mr Miller, 41, and three other people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud.

The others are a 30-year-old woman from Ramsbottom, a 26-year-old woman from Milnrow and a 42-year-old man from Milnrow.

The firearms were discovered at the warehouse in Maple Mill, Cardwell Street.

It has emerged that Mr Miller could face a lengthy prison sentence, hefty fine and a total company shutdown if he has found to have breached a lifetime court order.

The raids were all connected to a company trading as Kitchens which is said to be the most complained about independent trader in Britain.

In 2002, the Office of Fair Trading gave Miller the country's first "Stop Now" order, telling him to stop his rogue trading practices or face prison.

He ignored the warning and was sentenced to nine months in jail which was later reduced to five weeks.

A spokesman for the OFT said: "We have been working very closely with Oldham council. "The Stop Now order is still against him and if it is discovered he has broken it we will take appropriate action."The penalties may include a maximum of two years in jail along with an unlimited fine.

Oldham Trading Standards boss John Rice said: "We are working closely with the OFT and will be delighted to supply them with evidence to support any action they think suitable.

"If Vance Miller is found to have broken the Stop Now order he will end up back in court and could find himself back in prison.

"This is a lifetime order and any breach of the order is a very serious matter indeed."

Mr Miller has traded under various company names and was first exposed by the M.E.N in 2001 after customers complained that kitchens supplied by his two companies fell apart.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) closed down two companies in 2002 but Miller set up another company.

A second M.E.N. campaign exposed how he had failed to clean up his act and led to the "Stop Now" order.